Gas regulator



(No Model.)

P. E. VAIL.

GAS REGULATOR.

No. 549,407. I Patented Nov. 5, 1895.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Yatent No. 549,407, dated November 5, 1895. Application filed August 9, 1895. $erial No. 558,711. No modelfi To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANK E. YAIL, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful improvement in Gas-Regnhitors, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in gas-regulators; and the object of my invention is to equalize and regulate the pressure of coal and other gases as the gas is supplied to the burners, so as to prevent waste by an excessive pressure and to cause a uniform steady flame under all circumstances.

A further object of the invention .is to provide a regulator with two diaphrngms "heredefective from any reason whatsoc other diaphragm will be brought into action located above and below the diaphragm.

second. diaphragm i3 is located above the and the escape of gas, explosions, and other accidents incident to a defective regulator will be avoided. 1

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for so steadying the valve that it will work in substantially a perfect manner and thereby prevent the flickering of the light at the burner, and, furthermore, to provide a means whereby the second and upper diaphragm will not interfere in the slightestdegree with the action of thelower diaphragm, which directly controls the g} but wherein the upper diaphragm will materially assist the lower one by rendering it much more steady in its action.

Theinvention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specifieation, which is a central longitudinal. section through the improved gas-regulator.

In carrying out the invention the regulator maybe made of any desired material and may be given any desired cross-sectional shape. -'lhe gas-chamber A comprises that part of the regulator between the lower diaphragm B and thevalve-seat 10. The valve 11 is suspended from the diaphragm B through the medium of a stem 12, secured to coinpression-plaie 123,

lower diaphragm ll and at a predetermined distance therefrom, the valve-stem being connected with the upper diaphragm in like manner as it is connected with the lower onename y, throlwh the medium of compressionplates l3ano preferably upon the uppermost of the compression-plates of the upper diaphragm a suliieient weight is placed to countel-balance the desired gas-pressure, and this loading may he applied in the form of disks located around the stem of the valve, or it may be in the nature of weights, as shown in dotted lines, simply resting upon the said upper compressirm-plate. Ordinarily, however, these weights are connected wit-l the stem in some manner, in order that they may not be easily shifted from the position in which they are placed. Under this construction the valve-stem is given an upper and substant-ially a lower guide, and is therefore rendered steady in its.action. This is an important point, since if the valve, which ordinarily has more or lateral movement, is unsteady a flickering of the light is the result at the burner, and by steadying the'same in the manner above set forth the valve is made to work regularly, and the light at the burner will therefore be uniform.

An air-space A is formed between the upper and the lower diaphragm, the space being hermetically sealed, so that the two diaphragms' must of necessity act together. The upper diaphragm does not control the gas unless the lower diaphragm should become injured in any manner, i1r-wl1ich event it will immediately take the place of the lower diaphragm, and therefore will prevent'the escape of gas, or explosions, or other acci dents incident upon such escape, rendering the regulator constant and perfect in its action and providim for the regulation of the pressure under circumstances which would ,render the ordinary regulator inoperative.

A tight-fitting cover 0, adapted to be secured in position by a padlock or otherwise, protects vboth of the diaphragms from injury and prevents tampering with the loading by any unauthorized person, and an air-space C is forn'ied l-ieneath the cover, giving proper elasticity to the upper diaphragm, while the air-space A between the two'diaphragms performs the. same function for the lower one.

The two diaphragms cannot be brought together, as in that event the sensitiveness of both of them would be materially interfered with. v

A valt'e-chamber 14 is provided in the bottom of the regulator, to which the gas is admitted through the medium of the inlet 15, the latter being provided with suitable couplings to adapt the regulator for use upon meters of various sizes,

The diaphragms B and B are composed of a thin and highly-flexible vegetable membrane,-wh-ich' I'rerm 'viilcaniied fiber, and which is absolutely impervious to gas and the vapors from petroleum, naphtha, &c. and does not become either hardened or weakened by exposure to the pressure or the impurities of the gas, and its flexibility and softness increase with use, owing to the lubricating action of the mineral oil in the gas upon the'vcgetable membrane of which the diaphragms are composed.

The diaphragms consist of a sheet formed of the aforesaid vegetable fiber reduced to apulp and subjected to powerful chemical treatment in a bath of the chlorides of zinc, tin, calcium, and magnesium to liberate the resinous or gummy matter, and subsequently treated with a solution of glycerine to impart pliability and softness to the sheet, and the material is then vulcanized. By this process the fibrous portion only of the original stock remains, and these fibers are compacted, so

as toiorm an impervious sheet, and softened by the g'lyeerine treatment, so as to be perfectly adapted for my purpose.

I expressly disclaim the use of sheets of rubber, leather, parchment paper, or pliable metal, which have heretofore been used for a like purpose. I

The interior of the regulat or-caslnghas two annular shoulders, of which the upper one has the reater diameter, so that the lower smaller diaphragm may be first introduced, secured in place between the two rings on the lower shoulder, and then adjusted on the valve-stem, after which the upper larger diaphragm may be similarly secured and adjusted.

The valve 11 is formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, concaved or bellshaped and open on its under side to receive the gas as it passes the deflector, and the gas finds an escape from the main chamber A throughan outlet 16. By reason of this constructionofthc valvcthc iin ulse of the current will tend to automatica ly lift the valve in contact with its seat, and thus render its action more sensitive to changes of pressure than would be possible with the ordinary globe or solid valve. lts upper-surface is circular in cross-section and finished smoothly, so as to t its seat accurately. To retain this fine fini 'h and avoid the injurious effect of corrosion, I preferably nickel-plate the val ve.

thereby adding greatly to the durability and efiiciency of the apparatus.

The valve-seat 10 is annular and sharpened around its lower edge to present the most limited surface possible, so that contact with the valve shall not be prevented by any part icles of matter deposited thereon, nor shall the two adhere because of the-presence of any impurities.

Among the advantages that may be claimed for the improved regulator it may be said that the two diaphragms add to the longevity of the machine, and one diaphragm forms a seal for the other, effectually preventing the escape of odors. 'hen the lower diaphragm becomes worn, the upper one will take its place, and explosions or the escape of gas will be effectually prevented. phragms cannot be placed together, as heretofore stated, asonc would interfere with the sensitiveness of the other, and the air-space intervening the two will compel the two diaphragms to act in unison. thermore prevented from wabbling or from lateral vibration, beingguided by the two diaphragms, which maintain it steady, and yet do not in the slightest degree act against its vertical movement to and from its seat. The gas keeps the lower or working diaphragm expanded, and the airin the intermediate The two dia-v The valve is furchamber'A performs the same service for the upper diaphragm.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A gas regulator comprising the casinghaving two internal annular shoulders, the upper one being of greater diameter than the lower one, a gas inlet and outlet being provided .in the bottom and side of the casing, a

valve seat above the inlet, a valve stem hav- 1 ing a valve closing upwardly toward said seat, a diaphragm held between rings oh the lower annular shoulder, an upper larger diaphragm held between rings on the upper annular shoulder, a pair of disks and nuts securing each diaphragm to the valve stemwhereby after the lower diaphragm has been properly adjusted and secured in place the upper one may be similarly adjusted and secured, and a closely fitting cover for the said casing, substantially as deserilmdl- FRANK E. VAIL;

\V ltn csses:

J. FRED ACKER, SEDGWICK. 

